Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Initiation of Antibiotic Treatment After Performing a Blood Culture and Intervention by the Antimicrobial Stewardship Team.

The early COVID-19 pandemic may have affected the delay in time from blood culture collection to antibiotic administration. Later, in recurring COVID-19 pandemics, AST intervention eliminated this problem. When a bacterial infection such as sepsis is suspected, delayed treatment can be prevented by promptly collecting a blood culture, irrespective of concerns about COVID-19 infection. Calculating the QI may promote AST activities and the appropriate use of antibiotics.